21 December 2008

Oh my this is fun (crazy, but fun). Seriously, we've had more snow than I can recall in my adult life. Eight inches in the last 24 hours, on top of what we've gotten the last few days. The kids are having a blast sledding, and I went sledding to work, sliding all over the freeway in a six thousand pound sled. (Sleds, as you may recall, have primitive steering and no brakes. That was consistent with my commute.)

Is it too much to ask that in the worst winter storm of the last decade, that people only come to the ER if they are actually sick? It was a busy shift, 24 patients in 8 hours, and maybe three of those people needed the ER. WTF? You came out in these conditions for the abdominal pain you've had for three months? A wound check? Seriously?

While I always want to make fun of people for enjoying snow (I live in Southern Ontario, so it's not exactly news here), I'm glad that you guys are having so much fun with it!

We live in Southern Ontario so snow storms aren't really that uncommon- it seems to me that a lot of people hit the ER then just because they think that for some reason it will be slow. That's usually wrong, in my experience, as no matter how many times a year it snows here, people often forget how to drive in it.

To be fair, some of the patients who could have, and hopefully would have, gone to a walk-in clinic were not able to do so due to closures. Unfortunately, my friend and I were in this position Saturday as the Redmond and Woodinville clinics were both closed. Had she not been suffering from left arm pain due to an unknown cause, we may have waited, but better safe then sorry. Luckily, it wasn’t serious.

LOL Doc! If I were in the sunbelt, I might go to the ER because I thought it wouldn't be crowded.

Now, 8 inches of snow.... not a big storm. We had over 2 feet in 48 hours. However, we have the infrastructure to deal with it. I can't imagine letting 8 inches of snow really influence travel plans. If I were back in the Bay Area in California, an inch would keep me locked up in my house though! LOL

Shadowfax

About me: I am an ER physician and administrator living in the Pacific Northwest. I live with my wife and four kids. Various other interests include Shorin-ryu karate, general aviation, Irish music, Apple computers, and progressive politics. My kids do their best to ensure that I have little time to pursue these hobbies.

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